ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Kirpianuscus a film with many virtues. care for historical accuracy, costumes, music, tension, performances. and wise manner to propose a fresco about the ambition and self definition.. but not enough to be a great film. because it seems be only a beautiful sketch, full of good intentions, seductive in few scenes, saved by the presence of Angela Molina but too tensioned for present the story more than as a kind of parable about power. a film who impress for the detail's exploitation. for the ambition to reflect the spirit of a period in the inspired manner. and for the new perspective about Borgias, realistic, interesting, cold, with few drops of romance.

jotix100 When we first meet Rodrigo Borgia at a papal election, little prepare us for what this man would turn out to be after he gets to be Pope. His main rivals were Ascanio Sforza and Giuliano Della Rovere. The time was the last part of the XV century. Rodrigo, who was born in Spain, under a the name of Jofre LLancol, changed the name to Borja after his uncle Alfonso Borja was elected as Pope earlier in the century. His ambitions were enormous, and having served five different pontiffs before his own elevation, gave him a taste for power. After his election, Rodrigo took the name Alexander VI.It was common practice at that time that Popes, as well as members of the Catholic elite had families on the side. No one objected because it was a reality as members of that select group came usually from rich and powerful families. Rodrigo was no exception. After being enthroned, he set out right away to consolidate his power because his ambition was to rule the church as well as the rest of Italy. He sired four children, Cesare, Giovanni, Goffredo, and Lucrezia. For purposes of this film, the names of the children were changed to the Spanish version, thus they became Cesar, Juan, Jofre, and Lucrecia. Rodrigo had formidable enemies, but being a sly operator, he decided to marry his favorite daughter, Lucrecia to Giovanni Sforza, a match that should have consolidated his powers. Rodrigo was rumored had incestuous relations with his own daughter. Lucrecia in turn seemed to be quite taken with her brother Cesar. In the meantime, Rodrigo was happily distracted by Giulia Farnese, a gorgeous creature. The Borgias were one of the earliest dysfunctional families in history. The behind the scene machinations were the order of the day in the Rome of those days. All what mattered was how much power anyone had and whose loyalties the people in power had. In turn, their own ambition did them in. Rodrigo died poisoned and the children's fates are well known.Antonio Hernandez, the director of this ambitious film, centered the action around Rodrigo, who had his hands in everything imaginable. This is a biographic account of a family that was doomed because they had it all, but misused their power. Mr. Hernandez, who co-wrote the screen treatment presents a great spectacle to dazzle the viewer. Working with his cinematographer, Javier Salmones, he places the action in palaces and castles that lend themselves to the story. Sergio Peris-Mencheta makes a good impression with his take on Cesar. He casts a fine figure as the favorite son of Rodrigo. LLuis Homar's Rodrigo is perhaps the most dominant appearance in the film. Mr. Homar does a good job convincing the viewer he is the villain everyone felt he was. Maria Valverde makes a delicious Lucrecia, but Paz Vega has nothing to do."Los Borgia" is a spectacle for history buffs. Although running more than two hours, it packs so much action so no one will feel bored.

ole Reading El_Choco's comment, I thought of yesterday, telling about the film to my SO, who did not see it. I said it was a beautiful film, with nice photography, the music did seem nice to me (although yes, I realize now it was the same music once and again) and... well, I managed not to get asleep.I don't know about historical fidelity. But even if it was good, it is not enough.I found myself thinking that something is missing in the film. You can not just take some people, put them in nice costumes and locations, even give them a story, and just shout Action! I thought of the voices, the interpretation in general. As said, you did not care much about the characters; they are not believable.Fortunately I saw a trailer and realized I should not go to the theater to see this film. I went to the Filmo and, at least, did not expend the full usual ticket.

El_Choco I'm always a believer in trying to find positive things to say about anything. So, here goes.First positive comment: The male leads are really great looking.Second positive comment: The female lead ain't bad either.Third positive comment: Ummm...This film is incredibly long. IMDb has a running time of 120mins, but I made it closer to 2 3/4 hours. This time dilation phenomenon was made even more noticeable by the fact that this was probably the most boring film I've seen since...since... Kingdom of Heaven last year. (You know, it makes my back creak to even think of that film again.) The one difficulty I had (apart from actually seeing the action past the members of the audience who kept leaving the auditorium in front of me) was that I found myself completely lacking any sympathy for the main lead roles. At all. I just didn't care what happened to them. They could have conquered Europe or caught Malaria and shivered away to frost and bone and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.Lucretia Borgia was a an absolute love and I did at least feel sorry for her as her brothers and fathers had successive husbands organised, wedded to her and then murdered. Pobrecita! Also, I couldn't work out if there was a deliberate incest theme going on between her and the males in the family, There was lots of full-lipped kissing between them and her. I'm sure it's all been researched, but it was a bit odd. And, as all the women in the film ended up naked and all looked 'pre-raphaelite' it was hard to tell who was bedding whom at times.But the Guys? Come on! I was waiting for the father to die for the last hour and a half and hoped there'd be a rebellion a lot earlier in the film so it would all be over.Perhaps the director was trying to make the audience feel what it's like to live under an oppressive regime where you can't change anything. I too would have liked them all dead but surely that's not a good thing to say about the starring players whose every move you have to watch for 120/165 mins.I would like to say something else positive...think, think! The set's? No, nothing special.The music? No, irritatingly it repeated the same theme over and over again. No, not just the same theme, the same music! It's a shame the Borgias didn't conquer Germany or they might have learned what a variation was. (OK, I know I'm a few hundred years too early) The costumes? I was thinking during the final scene how completely amazing the photography was on House of the Flying Daggers. It's a sad moment for a film when you think how much better other films are WHILE you're still watching it.Set-piece action-sequences? There weren't any! Fisticuffs in the church square that was 100 times worse than a first-time amateur read-through of Mercutio and Tybalt and then a bit of horse riding here and there.Food? Even the popcorn machine was broken. (Not really a fault of the film, but it didn't help!) Nudity? If you're going to take someone's clothes off then make sure they're stunners, please. (Dove soap adherents make note) So, there you have it. In fact the best bit was when someone's mobile phone went off. The audience sighed with relief. When that happens, you KNOW the film's in trouble.I thought Snakes on a Plane was dodgy, but obviously I seriously misjudged the standard. Snakes on a Plane was un-reservedly EXCELLENT compared to this. AND they had girls whom it was worth paying to see naked.Don't hesitate when you come to chose where your money goes.